Billboard installation requires authorization and work-at-height safety: location is reported monthly

A billboard is not ready when printing ends. In Medellín, its installation is tied to an outdoor advertising authorization and to a monthly report of the signs in use. The location, message and dimensions must be reported every month.

The requirement appears in Medellín's outdoor advertising tax guidance, updated on September 8, 2026 by the City of Medellín. Billboard installation requires aligning that information with the site, the support structure and the installation schedule. Installation and sign management should be planned as one operation.

In addition, Law 140 states that outdoor advertising must be registered with the municipal or district authority within three business days after placement, and later changes must also be updated. A change to a billboard may also require updating its registration.

What does billboard installation include?

Installation brings together a review of the location, access, support structure and graphic piece, as well as the physical installation. There is no comparable per-billboard price: it varies with the structure, height, access, design and site conditions. The actual scope is defined by the physical conditions of each location.

A quote commonly separates what will be installed from what must be resolved before reaching the location: measurements, equipment access, support condition and applicable permits. Billboard installation and removal in Medellín is easier to coordinate when those details are defined from the outset. A written quote separates installation, access and site requirements.

Supervisor checks a metal billboard structure before installation. Illustrative image generated with artificial intelligence.

How is billboard installation planned?

Planning sets the work schedule, equipment access and who answers for each step. In Medellín, the owner reports each month to the city revenue office the details of signs in use and also the list of those taken down during the month. Billboard information must remain consistent across authorization, installation and reporting.

Agreement 026 of 2025 changed Medellín's outdoor advertising rules and enabled Special Regulation Areas for innovative and large-format projects. For Plaza Mayor there is a draft decree dated February 2026; it proposes prior technical assessment for large-format projects, but remains a proposal. The Plaza Mayor draft is not the same as a current obligation.

What is reviewed when installing metal billboards?

For a metal billboard, the support structure, work points and fall exposure are reviewed before work begins. Resolution 4272 of 2021 applies to those hiring, performing or working at height and provides for a permit before starting where there is a fall risk. Work at height requires identifying hazards and controls before installation.

That review changes with the height, the condition of the structure and how the work point is accessed. The prevention program includes identifying tasks, hazards and risks, under Resolution 4272 of 2021. Installation safety depends on the specific task and site.

Harnessed technician adjusts a panel on an outdoor advertising structure. Illustrative image generated with artificial intelligence.

How can billboard installation companies be selected?

Comparison is useful when proposals describe the same scope: location, support structure, height, access, installation and responsibilities. They should also state timelines in writing, since these depend on the print run, finishes and installation conditions. Two comparable proposals reveal differences that a total price can hide.

The selected company should be able to align the printed piece with the actual conditions at the site, without treating installation as an isolated step. Where outdoor advertising is involved, registration and sign details remain part of the operation. A well-installed billboard keeps the piece, site and management aligned.